Spray device



F. J. INGAL SPRAY DEVICE ram., 28, w58

Filed April A17', 1956 (n/5.27 fr nited This invention relates to adevice and method for applying coating material to ingot molds.

For many years, a problem involved in the casting of steel ingots withina metal mold has been the prevention of the adherence of molten metalsplashes onto the interior mold surfaces. Such splashes would solidifybefore the bulk of the ingot metal, with resulting scabs, strains,seams, weak spots, and the like. Moreover, any solidiiied splashes hadto be removed from the mold surface before the mold could be reused incasting another ingot.

To meet these problems, various compositions have been tried asprotective coatings for the inside surfaces of the mold. It was ofcourse desirable that the coating composition be such that it could beeffectively applied to the mold without the necessity of the bothersomeand uneconomical cooling down of the mold. One composition 'and methodwhich has been found particularly desirable, due to a great extent tothe fact that it may be applied successfully to molds at greatlyelevated temperatures, is that disclosed in my United States Patent No.2,578,976, issued December 18, 1951. My present invention has particular'application to an apparatus and method for applying a composition ofthat general type.

Thus it is one object of my invention to produce a novel device capableof storing, transporting, and applying a dry pulverulent coatingcomposition to ingot molds.

A more particular object is to provide a novel device which Willinitiate its operation of coating such as mold in response to itsdisposition on the mold.

Another object is to provide a novel and effective apparatus and methodfor the application of coating composition to the inside surfaces of aningot mold while the mold is at greatly elevated temperature.

A further object is to provide a novel device having an auxiliary ormixing chamber in which a charge of coating composition may bethoroughly admixed in a turbulent region of functional air or other gas,with a storage hopper operatively associated with the auxiliary chamberbut sealed o therefrom during mixing intervals.

In carrying out my invention in a preferred embodiment to attain theseand other objects, I provide a portable storage hopper carrying beneathit an auxiliary chamber of much smaller capacity. For permittingcommunication between the hopper and auxiliary chamber, l provide in thebottom Wall of the hopper an outlet opening tted with a valve plug.Means are provided to operate that plug in response to placement of thedevice on the ingot mold to be coated, with the plug being operated to aclosed position in response to placement of the device on the mold, andto an open position in response to removal of the device from the mold.A compressed air supply means is provided for the auxiliary chamber, tomix and suspend the coating composition, the compressed air supply beinglikewise operable in response to the placement of the device on themold. As that air supply is energized, the inrushing air stirs up thecoating composition in the auxiliary chamber to create a suspension ormist of the composition in air. That mist is blown through a contates tarent:

ice

duit to a dii'usion nozzle where it is sprayed onto the inside moldsurfaces as the protective coating desired.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will bereadily apparent from the following more detailed description of apreferred embodiment thereof taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Figure l is a vertical section through a device according to a preferredembodiment of my invention, indicating the parts in their relativeposition when the device is resting on an associated ingot mold, thatmold being indicated by the chain lines;

Figure 2 is an elevation of such a device, showing the parts in theposition they occupy with the device removed from the associated mold;and

Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken along the line lll-lll of Figurel.

As shown in the drawings, a supply of coating composition il) is adaptedto be contained in a storage means such as the tank or hopper 12 shownhaving a conical bottom wall 14 which guides the composition towards anoutlet opening 16 provided in that bottom wall. When permitted by avalve means provided for that opening; such as plug i8 yet to bedescribed, the composition may run from hopper 12 through outlet openingi6 into an auxiliary or mixing chamber 2i) carried by the hopper 12.

Coating composition which has thus fallen into mixing chamber 20 isadapted to be thoroughly admixed with air or other gas introduced underpressure, for eventual application as a mist to the mold walls. Towardthis end, a compressed air inlet 22 communicates with chamber 2i)through an air conduit 24 from an associated source of compressed air.Air control means such as the valve 26 shown is provided to control thesupply of compressed air to the air inlet 22.

For leading the mist of coating composition and air from the mixingchamber, an outlet conduit 28 leads therefrom and extends below thatchamber into the interior of the associated ingot mold 39, indicateddiagrammatically by the chain lines in Figure l. Suitable diifusionmeans such as the spray nozzle 32 shown are desirably provided at thefree end of the conduit 28 to obtain the desired thorough application tothe mold walls. The mist is blown through conduit 28 and nozzle 32 bypressure in the mixing chamber 20.

According to the present invention, plug 1S is caused to open inresponse to removal of the device from an associated mold, and to closeupon placement on a mold; while air valve 26 is caused to open uponplacement of the device on the associated mold, and to close uponremoval from the mold.

To this end, the plug 18 is connected to and controlled by amotion-transmitting system responsive to disposition of the device on anassociated mold 3l). As shown, that system includes an actuating member,such as a base plate 44 shown, carried by the hopper 12 in such a mannerthat it is adapted to be moved with respect to hopper 12 by the presenceof the apparatus on the mold 30. As indicated in Figure 2, when theapparatus is not positioned on a mold 3i), that base plate 44 issupported by tension members such as bolts 46 carried by a frame piece48 of the chamber 2d. Resilient means such as the compression springsSti urge the base plate 44 away from the frame piece 48 and chamber 243to the limit permitted by the bolts 46. When the apparatus is placed onthe mold 30, the weight of the apparatus causes the springs S0 to yieldand the chamber 20 and frame piece 48 to move relatively closer to thebase plate 44. This relative movement is transmitted, by a connectingrod 54, and by levers 56 pivotally mounted on supporting means such as acover plate 58 carried to the hopper 12, to a control rod 60 slidablyextending downwardly i 3 through the 'hopper' and connected to the plug18. Through such a system, the plug 18 is caused to be closed bydisposition of the apparatus on a mold, and to be re-opened by removalof the apparatus from the mold.

For Ythe desired actuation of air valve 26 in response to position ofthe apparatus on an associated mold 3G, I interrelate the control hand70 of the valve with a position-responsive control means such as anabutment 72 carried by the relatively movable base plate 44. As shown,the abutment 72 is desirably a screw, and that screw is threaded intoplate 44 to permit adjustment of its effective length and thereby of theamount of opening of valve 26 and the intensity of the stream of theincoming air moving into mixing chamber 2i). The engagement of screw 72with valve handle 7i) opens the valve to admit air to the chamber 20when base plate 44 is held upwardly while the apparatus rests a mold.

The hopper cover plate SS is provided with a material inlet opening '74fitted with an openable cover 76. Desirably covering the upper parts ofthe hopper 12 and hopper cover plate 58, and enclosing the levers 56, isa hood 7S. The hood 7b is shown as carrying the holding means such aseye Si) by which the whole assembly maybe carried for transport tosuccessive molds. Releasable fastening means 32 maintain the hood 78 andhopper 12 assembled.

ln applying coating composition to an ing-ot mold according to thepresent invention, a reservoir of coating material lit is deposited inhopper 12, some of such material running past the then-open plug 1S intothe mixing chamber Zll. The apparatus is carried by eye 80 and depositedon an associated ingot mold, and the Weight of that assembly causessprings Si) to compress to permit hopper 12 and mixing chamber Ztl todrop relatively to the base plate 44. That relative movement actuatesthe plug 1S to closed position and actuates air control valve 26 to openposition. Thus the charge of composition conned in mixing chamber 2i) ismixed with the air into a mist which is blown through conduit 2S andnozzle 32 to apply the coating composition to the ingot mold walls.Removal of the apparatus from the mold permits base plate 44 to againdrop under bias of springs Si?, thereby closing air supply 26, andopening plug 18 to permit another charge of powder to drop into themixing chamber.

It will thus be seen from the foregoing description of my inventionaccording to a preferred embodiment considered in conjunction with theaccompanying drawing, that the present invention provides a new andimproved apparatus and method for the application of coating compositionto mold surfaces, with the desired advantages and characteristics, andaccomplishing its intended objects, including those hereinoefore pointedout and others which are inherent in the invention as disclosed.

Although I have shown and described a specic embodiment of my invention,I intend to cover all changes and modifications of the example hereinchosen for purposes of disclosure, which do not constitute departuresfrom the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

l. Apparatus for the application of coating composition to insidesurfaces of a mold, comprising a storage hopper, an auxiliary chambertherebeneath, an outlet provided in said hopper and opening into saidauxiliary chamber, a valve means operable for closing of said outlet, agas inlet and conduit means communicating said chamber with anassociated source of gas under pressure, gas valve means in said gasinlet conduit means, outlet means leading from said auxiliary chamberfor operatively extending into the interior of an associated mold,meansassociated with said hopper and chamber and operating in responseto disposition of said apparatus on the associated mold to cause saidvalve means to moveto a closed positionwith respect to said hopper 4outlet and to cause said gas valve means to open to provide gas in saidauxiliary chamber to mix with a charge of coating composition thereinand blow the resulting mist through said outlet means to coat thesurface of the associated mold.

2. Apparatus for the application of coating composition to insidesurfaces of a mold, comprising a storage hopper, and auxiliary chambertherebeneath, an outlet provided in said hopper and opening into saidauxiliary chamber, a valve means operable for closing of said outlet, anair inlet and conduit means communicating said chamber with anassociated source of air under pressure, air valve means in said airinlet conduit means, outlet means leading from said auxiliary chamberfor operatively extending into the interior of an associated mold, meansassociated with said hopper and chamber and operating in response todisposition of said apparatus on the associated mold to cause said valvemeans to move to a closed position with respect to said hopper outlet,means associated with said hopper and chamber and operative in responseto disposition of said apparatus on the associated mold to cause saidair valve means to open to provide air in said auxiliary chamber to mixwith a charge of coating composition therein and blow the resulting mistthrough said outlet means to coat the surface of the associated mold.

3. Apparatus for the application of coating composi-v tion to insidesurfaces of a mold, comprising a storage hopper, an auxiliary chambertherebeneath, an outlet provided in said hopper and opening into saidauxiliary chamber, a valve means operable for closing of said outlet, anair inlet and conduit means communicating said chamber with anassociated source of high pressure air, air valve means in said airinlet conduit means, outlet means leading from said auxiliary chamberfor operatively extending into the interior of an associated mold, amember movable with respect tok said hopper and adapted to be engaged bythe associated mold to be moved with respect to said outlet and inresponse to disposition of said apparatus on the associated mold tocause said valve means to move to a closed position with respect to saidhopper outlet, and actuating means canied by said member to cause saidair valve means to open to provide air in said auxiliary chamber to mixwith a charge of coating composition therein and blow theresultingr mistthrough said outlet means to coat the surface of the associated mold.

4. Apparatus for the application of coating composition to insidesurfaces of :a mold, comprising a storage hopper, an auxiliary chambertherebeneath, an outlet provided in said hopper and opening into saidauxiliary chamber, a valve means operable for closing of said outlet, anair inlet and conduit means communicating said chamber with `anassociated source of high pressure air, air valve means in said airinlet conduit means, outlet means leading from said auxiliary chamberfor operatively extending into the interior of an associated mold, aframe member carried by said hopper and supporting a mold-engageablemember, air valve actuating means carried by said mold-engageablemember, resilient means holding said frame member and saidmold-engageable member in a certain space relationship, said framemember and said moldengageable member being adapted to be relativelymoved in response to disposi tion of said apparatus on the associatedmold to cause said valve means to move to a closed position with respectto said hopper outlet and to cause said air valve actuating means toopen said air valve means to provide air in said auxiliary chamber tomix with a charge of coating composition therein and blow the resultingmist through said outlet means to coat the surface of the associatedmold.

5. Apparatus for the application of coating composition to insidesurfaces of a mold, comprising a -storage hopper having a bottom wallsloping downwardly to an outlet opening provided therein, a plug forclosing said opening, an auxiliary chamber carried by said hopperbeneath said opening, an air inlet and conduit means communicating saidchamber with an associated source of high pressure air, air valve meansin said air inlet conduit means, outlet means leading from saidauxiliary chamber for operatively extending into the interior of anassociated mold, a member carried by said hopper and engageable with anassociated ingot mold when said hopper is brought into operatingrelationship to said mold, said member being relatively movable to saidhopper when so engaged by said mold, and plug control means operativelyconnected with said member for causing said plug to close said hopperoutlet opening in response to such relative movement of said member.

6. Apparatus for the application of coating composition to insidesurfaces of a mold, comprising a storage hopper having a bottom wallsloping downwardly to an outlet opening provided therein, a plug forclosing said opening, an auxiliary chamber carried by said hopperbeneath said opening, an air inlet and conduit means communicating saidchamber with an associated source of high pressure air, air valve meansin said air inlet conduit means, outlet means leading from saidauxiliary chamber for operatively extending into the interior of anassociated mold, a member carried by said hopper and engageable with anassociated ingot mold when said hopper is brought into operatingrelationship to said mold, said member being relatively movable to saidhopper when so engaged by said mold, plug control means operativelyconnected with said member for causing said plug to close said hopperoutlet opening in response to such relative movement of said member, andactuating means carried by said member to open said air valve means,said air valve means in said air inlet conduit means being actuatable toopen position by said actuating means in response to such relativemovement of said member.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,420,888 Straw June 27, 1922 1,534,627 Yoemans Apr. 21, 1925 1,589,014Lee June 15, 1926 1,634,266 Moore July 5, 1927 2,343,842 Hatcher Mar. 7,1944 2,454,910 Carr Nov. 30, 1948 2,754,035 Lamb July 10, 1956 FOREIGNPATENTS 1,088,436 France Mar. 7, 1955

